PHOTOGRAPHY
The purpose of this project is to establish basic to advanced knowledge of the abilities in using photographic equipment, lighting, and composition to capture images, express feelings, and communicating ideas. 4-H members can work through the three project levels, progressing from basic to advanced photography skills and techniques. For help getting started with this project, contact your county 4-H Extension office or go to https://go.unl.edu/ne4h-photography.
PREMIUMS: Purple-$3.00; Blue-$2.00; Red-$1.50; White-$1.00
GENERAL PHOTOGRAPHY RULES
4-H members are allowed to exhibit in only ONE PHOTOGRAPHY LEVEL.
4-H members may enter one exhibit per class (limit of 3 total exhibits for State Fair).
An image may only be used on one exhibit with the exception of Portfolios which may include images entered in other classes.
Cameras - Photos may be taken with any type of film or digital camera, including phones, tablets, and drones.
Photos must be shot by the 4-H member during the current project year with the exception of Portfolios which may include images captured and/or exhibited in previous years.
Securely attach photos, mats, backing, and data tags. Exhibits that are poorly attached may be disqualified.
Do not use photo corners, borders, or place coverings over the exhibits.
Display Exhibits - Displays consist of three 4”x6” photos mounted on a single horizontal 11”x14” black or white poster or mat board. Incorrect sizes will not be accepted. No foam board backing should be used. Each photo in the display must be numbered using a pencil. Numbers should be readable but not distract from the overall display. No titles, captions, or stick-on numbers will be allowed. Photos may be mounted vertically or horizontally. Appropriate Data Tags are required (see rule regarding Data Tags).
Print Exhibits - Print exhibits must be 8” x 10” prints mounted in 11” x 14” (outside size) cut matting with a sandwich mat board backing. Incorrect sizes will not be accepted. No foam board should be used for matting or backing. Mat openings may be rectangular or oval. Photos may be horizontal or vertical. No frames are allowed. Appropriate data tags are required (see rule regarding Data Tags).
Entry Tags - Entry tags should be securely attached to the upper right-hand corner of the exhibit.
Data Tags - Data Tags are required on all print and display exhibits. Data tags are not required for portfolios. Each exhibit must have the appropriate number and level of data tags as outlined below. Data tags should be securely attached to the back of the exhibit. Current data tags and help sheet are available at: https://go.unl.edu/ne4h-photography
A. Level 1 Prints - All Unit I prints must have a Level 1 Data Tag securely attached to the back of the exhibit in the upper right-hand corner.
B. Level 1 Displays - Each photo of the display must include a separate Level 1 Data Tag. Data Tags should be numbered with the corresponding photo’s number. Data Tags should be securely attached to the back of the exhibit.
C. Level 2 Prints - All Level 2 prints must have a Level 2 Data Tag.
D. Level 2 Displays - Each photo of the display must include a separate Level 2 Data Tag. Data Tags should be numbered with the corresponding photo’s number.
E. Level 3 Prints - All Level 3 prints must have a Level 3 Data Tag.
On Campus Exhibition Selection (State Fair) - Level 2 and Level 3 prints exhibited at State Fair may be selected for special on-campus exhibitions. Selected prints will be collected at the end of State Fair and will be returned to county Extension office after the completion of their on-campus exhibition.
Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at: https://go.unl.edu/ne4h-photography
FOCUSING ON PHOTOGRAPHY: LEVEL 1 GUIDELINES
Level 1 Picture Displays:
Display exhibits are encouraged for Level 1 exhibitors.
Displays consist of three 4”x6” photos mounted on a single horizontal 11” x 14” black (preferred) or white poster or mat board. No foam core backing board is allowed.
Each photo in the display must be numbered using a pencil (no. 2 lead pencil). Numbers should be readable but not detracting from the overall display.
No titles, captions, or stick-on numbers will be allowed.
Photos must be mounted vertically or horizontally.
Data tags are required for each photo in the display. Use numbers to identify which photo each data tag corresponds with.
DIVISION 180 - PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEVEL 1
B180001 FUN WITH SHADOWS DISPLAY - Photos should capture interesting or creative use of shadows. [Activity 4] (SF86)
B180002 GET IN CLOSE DISPLAY - Photo should capture a close-up view of the subject or object. [Activity 8] (SF86)
B180003 BIRD’S OR BUG’S EYE VIEW DISPLAY - Photo should capture an interesting viewpoint of a subject either from above (bird’s eye view) or below (bug’s eye view). [Activity 10] (SF86)
B180004 TRICKS AND MAGIC DISPLAY - Photos should capture visual trickery or magic. Trick photography requires creative compositions of objects in space and are intended to trick the person viewing the photo. For example, if someone is standing in front of a flower pot, the pot might not be visible in the image, making it look as if the flowers are growing out of the person’s head. [Activity 11] (SF86)
B180005 PEOPLE, PLACES, OR PETS WITH PERSONALITY DISPLAY OR PRINT - Photos should have a strong focal point, which could be people, places, or pets. Photos should capture the subject’s personality or character. Photos may be posed or un-posed. [Activity 13] (SF86)
B180006 BLACK AND WHITE DISPLAY OR PRINT - Photos should create interest without the use of color. Photos should show strong contrast and/or textures. Photos may be captured in black and white or captured in color and edited to black and white. [Activity 15] (SF86)
B180007 CHALLENGING PHOTO EXHIBIT: TELLING A STORY DISPLAY - Exhibit will include three photos which tell a story without words. Photos may show something being created, destroyed, consumed, moving, or growing. Photos should capture the beginning, middle, and end of a single story, project, or event. [Activity 14] (SF86)
B180008 PHOTO GIFT - Create a gift using photo(s) you have taken. For example: calendar, coasters, quilt, blanket, mug, candle holder, etc. Only the photos must be your work; you may send them off to have someone else construct the gift. (SF86)
B180009 RAINBOW WALK - Take a walk, and look for something red, orange, yellow, green blue, and purple. Keep going through the colors, in order, until the end of your walk. Bring a camera and take a photo of at least one image with each color. Write in a journal about the things you noticed and how they made you feel. Entry can be a photo album, poster board, or other creative way to display your photos. Include one photo of each of the different colors of the rainbow (six photos) and include your journal page. Photos can vary in size. (SF86)
B180010 PICK-A-SOMETHING - Pick something and try to get a collection of photos representing it. For instance, pick a color and try to go all day photographing only red things, or try only getting pictures of things that are square when you’re on a walk. Entry can be a photo album, poster board, or other creative way to display your photos. Try and include at least 6 different photos of the item of your choice. Photos can vary in size. (SF86)
B180011 SELFIES - Compose a variety of selfies. Entry can be a photo album, poster board, or other creative way to display your photos. Try and include at least 6 different photos of selfies of your choice. Photos can vary in size. (SF86)
DIVISION 181 - LEVEL 2: NEXT LEVEL PHOTOGRAPHY
Level 2 photographers should be utilizing all the skills and techniques they have developed thus far in their photography careers, especially topics covered in Book 1 Photography Basics and Book 2 Next Level Photography. 4-H members winning a purple at State Fair are strongly encouraged to advance to the next Unit level the following year.
Unit II – Intermediate level (suggested three years maximum enrollment).
B181010* LEVEL 2 PORTFOLIO - Level 2 portfolios should represent the 4-H member’s best work and must include five to seven different images from the 4-H member’s photography career. At least two images must have been taken during the current year. The remaining images may have been taken at any time during the member’s 4-H experience and may have been previously exhibited. Portfolios may include photos which are exhibited in other Level 2 classes during the same year. Portfolios must include:
1. 1-page max bio
2. Table of contents
3. Year each photo was taken
4. Title for each image
5. Device make and model used to capture each image
6. Reflections for each image. When writing reflections, 4-H members should focus on what new photography techniques or skills they were practicing when they took the photo, what makes the image successful, and what could have been done to improve the image. (SF88)
B181020* CREATIVE TECHNIQUES & LIGHTING DISPLAY OR PRINT - Photos should capture a creative use of lighting, such as diffused lighting, backlighting, or hard lighting, reflections, or another lighting technique covered in Book 2 Next Level Photography [Activity 3, 4, 5] (SF87)
B181030* CREATIVE COMPOSITION DISPLAY OR PRINT - Photos should capture a creative composition using the Rule of Thirds, Golden Triangle, Golden Rectangle, or another composition technique covered in Book 2 Next Level Photography. [Activity 6, 7, 8, 9] (SF87)
B181040* ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY DISPLAY OR PRINT - Photos should be abstract or capture a small piece of a larger subject. Abstract photos may not look like anything in particular but should be able to capture a viewer’s attention. [Activity 11] (SF87)
B181050* CANDID PHOTOGRAPHY DISPLAY OR PRINT - Candid photos should capture a special moment or meaningful interaction. Photos should be un-posed. [Activity 10] (SF87)
B181060* EXPRESSION THROUGH COLOR DISPLAY OR PRINT - Photos should capture a creative use of color or a color scheme, such as complimentary, contrasting, monochromatic, warm, cool, primary, secondary, or tertiary. [Activity 13] (SF87)
DIVISION 182 - LEVEL 3: MASTERING PHOTOGRAPHY
Level 3 photographers should be exploring and experimenting with advanced techniques. This may include but does not necessarily require using an SLR camera, manual adjustments, or other advanced equipment. Level 3 photographers should be utilizing all the skills and techniques they have developed throughout their photography career, especially topics covered in Book 1 Photography Basics, Book 2 Next Level Photography, and Book 3 Mastering Photography.
B182010* LEVEL 3 PORTFOLIO - Level 3 portfolios should represent the photographer’s best work. Level 3 portfolios must include 9 to 11 images from the 4-H member’s photography career. At least 3 images should be from the current year. The remaining images may have been taken at any time during the member’s 4-H experience and may have been previously exhibited. Portfolios may include photos which are exhibited in other Level 3 classes during the same year. Portfolios must include:
1. 1-page max bio
2. Table of contents
3. Year each photo was taken
4. Title for each image
5. Device make and model used to capture each image
6. Reflections for each image. When writing reflections, 4-H members should focus on what new photography techniques or skills they were practicing when they took the photo, what makes the image successful, and what could have been done to improve the image. (SF88)
B182020* ADVANCED TECHNIQUES & LIGHTING PRINT - Photos should show an experimentation or exploration of advanced lighting, such as low-light or silhouette photography or another advanced photography technique, such as astrophotography, underwater photography, or infrared photography [Activity 3,4, 5, or 12] (SF89)
B182030* ADVANCED COMPOSITION PRINT - Photos should show advanced compositions, such as using diagonal, horizontal, or vertical lines or repeating shapes to frame a subject or lead the viewers eye through a scene; breaking the rule of thirds to compose a discordant image; or another advanced composition technique covered in Book 3 Mastering Photography. [Activity 6, 7] (SF89)
B182040* PORTRAIT PRINT - A great portrait captures not only a person’s physical image, but also something of the person’s character or personality. Photos may be either formal or informal, but must be of one or more human subjects. [Activity 9] (SF89)
B182050* STILL LIFE PRINT - Photos should capture non-moving objects that have been arranged in an interesting way. Photos should demonstrate advanced control over lighting and composition [Activity 8] (SF89)
B182060* FREEZE/BLUR THE MOMENT PRINT - Photos should capture a subject in motion. Photographers should adjust shutter speed to either freeze or blur the movement. [Activity 11] (SF89)